anyone running an FE?

[75F100]

if any of you are running a 360/390, what engine combos do you have? i'm looking to build a very high torque motor, only needs to rev to 4500 or so, and i want monster torque. anyone know of a good combo, and some possible output #'s? thanks

[Alpo]

the easiest combo is the 410. 428 crank in the 390 bore block. Next would be a genuine 428. longest stroke of any Ford with the exception of the 400.
I put the 410 combo into my '73 F-250.
As far as power numbers....I dunno, nor do I care. It does the job of moving my 6000# beast out of its own way when I want it to.


Eric

[yldkat]

I used to run a 390 in a 1971 Ford F-250 that I mud bogged.
(I changed the axles out to 1979 D60's F&R.)
I had the Edelbrock Performer Manifold and Cam. Ran TRW 10.6:1 Pistons, HV oil pump, Clevite CL77 bearings with early FE heads and a stock valvetrain. At the time I was running a Carter Carb, because of it's simplicity to work on. The motor was balanced out to 8000, but seldom took it over 6000. If I had to do it all over again, I'd run the 428 crank, more manifold, cam, and carburetor. I would use the Edelbrock Aluminum heads, and less compression, say in the 9:1 range. I would also consider N2O.

Like Alpo said, I didn't worry too much about the numbers either.
It felt good when I was on it, that's all that mattered.

[infoford]

I ran a 390 for a few years I was happy as hell with the power
then the oil pressure started to drop so I sold the engine then of course I needed my truck I found a 460 and dropped it in and man what a difference in power same truck same everything else except engine gave loads more power with same fuel mileage I still like the FEs but I would be hard pressed to go back to one
in fact I have a rear sump oil pan is all I have left of the fe stuff

[75F100]

thanks for the feed back guys. i have 2 options, first i am running the stock 360 in my 75 right now. its running close to the 200,000 mile mark real soon. a few vavle seals are worn, but still runs sound. just dosen't make the power i think i'm ganna need. option 2 is a have a 72 model 429 complete, just needs rebuild. this was the rought i was going until every where i look people say 72' heads suck. i am on a very tigh buget right know and not sure what to do. but the input from you that have run both fe and 385 series engines is helping. like i said i don't need a high reving high hp motor, would like a low rpm torque MONSTER. thanks again guys.

[LeviGarrett76]

you can pick up some 68-71 heads for pretty cheap.....slap those on there put in a mild cam intake 750 carb and some headers and that 429 will scream......how fast do you want to spend.......what do you intend to do with this motor? you could go farther with a fatter cam, valves, springs, roller rockers bigger carb 460 crank and pistons or maybe even a stroker crank

[infoford]

well if your on a tight budget it would be cheaper to build the 385 series engine then the FE mainly because ford quit building the FE in 1976 and quit the 460 in 98 more demand for the 385 stuff so parts are cheaper however if you are swappng out a FE for it
then you have the conversion costs motor mounts exhaust tranny and if 4x4 oil pan which could bring you in the same realm as rebuilding the FE I personally would go with the 429/460 direction since you have a 360 and want more power translates into at least a 390 crank and pistons which is tough to come by anymore as with any desirable FE performance goody
there is a better market for the 385 series good luck